Philips Receives CoreNet Global New England Award of Excellence for Best New Workplace

Philips Receives CoreNet Global New England Award of Excellence for Best New Workplace

BOSTON, Mass. – October 3, 2012–Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA), one of Boston’s most innovative architectural and interior design firms, today announced that the firm’s interior design for Philips has won the 2012 CoreNet Global New England’s Award of Excellence for Best New Workplace. The award was given in the small building renovation category for Philips’ new office at 200 Minuteman Road in Andover, Mass.

The annual Best New Workplace Award recognizes a corporate workplace constructed within the last year that demonstrates innovative application of space layout, design and applicability to purpose, as well as functional utilization of technology that significantly improves the performance of the organization.

For the 32,000 sq. ft. interior fit-up of Philips’ new office environment, MPA provided interior architecture and corporate design services to translate the company’s shift in work and corporate culture into a high performance workspace that aligns with work-from-home practices and technology, provides collaboration space and privacy, and promotes Philips’ brand of improving the quality of people’s lives by focusing on health and well-being. Philips, a globally diversified health and well-being company, moved into its new office in November 2011.

The jurors commented that Philips was taking “bold and innovative steps by responding to both its organizational needs as well as the challenges facing commercial real estate (CRE) organizations to be more efficient in every way.” The jury panel was also “impressed by the engagement of the CRE organization with the user groups to get participation in creating the facility and buy-in for the end result.“

With no private offices, Philips’ open workspace features 200 individual work-settings for 260 employees in a “free addressing” concept. To promote collaboration and interaction, the open workspace is arranged in seven “neighborhoods.” To address privacy needs, small meeting rooms, enclosed work settings, and file/copy areas divide each neighborhood. At the center of the neighborhoods, a large, multi-functional and colorful “Town Square” anchors the office like an urban center, serving as a café and meeting room.

The ceiling layout, finishes, and lighting were strategically designed to provide a clear sense of circulation and aid in differentiating workspaces, collaboration space, and circulation. Colorful interior graphics with natural imagery mark the circulation path and vary in color to act as a wayfinding element. Philips’ own LED light fixtures, lamps and controls were used throughout the project. Over 90% of the lighting is LED, offering energy-efficient light that makes the office environment more engaging and uses 25% less electricity than code mandate for energy consumption per square foot.

“Philips’ new space leverages both technology and dynamic office design to create a livable, workable and sustainable high performance workspace,” said Marc Margulies, AIA, LEED AP, principal at Margulies Perruzzi Architects. “The design team worked together to envision and execute this efficient and flexible design concept, and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts by CoreNet Global New England.”

To see the design of Philips’ high performance workspace, please visit: bit.ly/MPA_Philips

J. Calnan & Associates, Inc. provided pre-construction and construction management services, and Cresa Boston, under the direction of Dwight Patten, provided project management services for the project. Brickstone Properties is the owner of the building at 200 Minuteman Road. The project team included HOK for signage and branding and R. G. Vanderweil Engineers for mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering. Creative Office Pavilion provided all the furniture for the project.